Early 1942 - Pillboxes and Howitzers to defend against land assault

The gun battery commanders had every confidence in their ability to defend themselves against ships but what they were most afraid of was a direct enemy infantry attack on the island via landing craft.

To combat this threat, the army created infantry defences using a short range howitzer battery to defend the big guns. The small three gun battery was intended to defend the island against direct assault. The howitzers were light enough to lug around on the back of a couple of old Bren carriers. They could fire a 9kg shell about 6km.

The Pillboxes

In 1941 when Japan entered the war, a decision was made to build 16 pillboxes to guard the battery and adjacent gullies up which the enemy might approach.

They had heavy and light machine guns, rifles and 3 inch mortars at the ready. Besides the pillbox at the top of Northern Junction, you can see three more embedded in the sides of the gully heading down to Mullet Bay and there is also one hidden right in the corner of the beach. In paddock 14 there is another right in the middle of our plantings. They had wooden sleeping benches, softboard linings and were in telephone communication with the battery. Two men slept while the third kept watch.

Trustees and volunteers have located and examined all 16 pillboxes. Some are in seldom visited areas of the island whilst others are in fairly steep and/or relatively well concealed locations. The Department of Conservation have surveyed and tagged all these structures. Earth works prohibit entry through the rear access doors. Some of the furnishings in these pillboxes remain in place and are in a remarkable state of preservation after 67 years.

Two more camps, the Infantry camp and the Howitzer camp, were constructed to house the additional troops. They were built along the sides of a gully off which the underground plotting room complex had been built.

The Infantry Camp

Because of the urgency to get troops onto the island, normal barracks were not built. They initially pitched tents then 30 dugouts with earth floors, wooden walls and roofs were built. The dugouts were excavated into the side of a bank. After the timber flooring and roofing was completed, topsoil was placed over the roof. Nine prefabs were erected for mess rooms, cooking, ablutions and toilets.

You can still see remnants of foundations. Other traces include concrete foundations for the cook house and toilets. The dugouts themselves have been filled in but the site of the buildings and dugouts is quite noticeable with the scarping to accommodate them being very prominent

The Howitzer Camp

The Howitzer Camp was located along from the Infantry Camp across the road from where the Rotary Centennial Track emerges at Northern Junction. In the drawing you can see the relationship between this camp, the infantory camp and the above and below ground plotting room complexes. 

The small three gun battery was intended to defend the island against direct assault. There were a total of 8 timber buildings constructed for cooking, washing, and toilet and mess facilities for the men. Accommodation was again provided in the form of dugouts. Six structures were excavated into the side of a bank, floored, walled and roofed with timber, topsoil paced over the roof. Number 37 on the drawing is the cookhouse, the remains of the fireplace can be seen in the distance in this pic.

A concrete foundation slab for the toilets and the remains of a fireplace, possibly part of the cookhouse, are the only tangible reminders remaining. The site of the buildings and dugouts is noticeable with the scarping to accommodate them very prominent. It is the first military site that can be viewed when you leave the track to head up the road to the pillbox and interpretative panel

Late 1943

By late 1943 with the threat of attack greatly reduced, the troops and artillery were withdrawn and the two temporary camps abandoned. In 1945-46 both camps were demolished and the prefab buildings were removed by the War Assets Realisation Board.